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E. ,.BODMAN.

l l WAGGN STEP. No. 326,098.I Patented Sept. 15,1885.

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UNITED STATES ELAM noDMAN, on

PATENT OFFICE.

GIBBON, NEBRASKA.

WAGON-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. 326,098, dated September l5, 1885.

' Application mea April no. 1885. (Modem To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELAM BODMAN, a citt zen of the United States, residing at Gibbon, in the county of Buffalo and State of Nebraska, have invented a neW anduseful Improvement in Common Wagons, of which the following isa specification.

Heretofore common wagons have been made without steps, except a foot board on the side of the bed, much too high for convenience when in use as a family conveyance, as is required of such vehicles in most parts of this great land. l

The leading feature of my invention' is the folding step, so constructed that when desired it can be folded against the side of the wagonbed, entirely out ot' the way. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the gure isa perspective View of the step and the attachingplate.

A represents the horizontal plate. B B represent the projecting end of plate A; C, the supporting-brace; D, the spiral spring; E, the spring-head; F, the horizontal bolt; G, the step; H, the hinge end of step.

The horizontal plate A is fteen inches long, two inches wide, one inch in thickness at the outer end. It is bolted to the wagon-bed and foot-board at the side with two or more bolts, Y leaving the outer end projecting one inch. The project-ing end B B is of such shape as to form part of the hinge, with the hole through it for a horizontal bolt, L, one-fourth ineh in diameter, with its nut.V Below and back of 3,5 this bolt is a hole drilled onehalf inch in diameter, two inches long, to inclose the steel or brass spiral spring D, three eighths inch in diameter, one and a half inch long also, the springhead E, of wood, seven-sixteenths 4o of an inch in diameter, one-half inch long, with a shoulder to conveyT the force of the spring to the hinge to hold the st'ep in place when not required.

The supporting-brace G secures the step G 45 in the proper position for use.

The movable part of the step G may be of any desired length and shape, or of the stiri rup form shown in the drawing, the top H being so formed that when joined bythe bolt F 5o to the plate A at B B it will become a oomplete and perfect hinge.

I am aware that prior to my lnvention folding steps have been inuse for carriages.l To such I lay no claim. They were altogether 55 different from the hinge-step which I have invented as an improvement to wagons.

What l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-g rIhe hinge-step. with its supporting-brace 6o and spring, applied to Wagons, all substantially as set forth.

ELAM BODMAN.

Witnesses:v

F. C. HITCHCOCK, P. S. CHAPMAN. 

